How to fish for Sailfish

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How to fish for Sailfish

I've caught a few in Islamorada with a guide and now going to give it a shot on my own. I have no problem filling the baitwell with pilchards. We've done it two ways. One where we slow trolled and created a school of pilchards behind the boat with a couple injured and sent our bait out there then another where we drift with current and leave a live one in a chum line. Both times I can't recall if the bail was left open while trolling/drifting? I'll probably do the drift as we fish for Mutton while waiting on the sails. Anyway bail open or closed?

Where are you planning to fish. technique and bait varies with location. Gog's and pilchards from Miami north, ballyhoo and pilchards from Key Largo south. If drifting - power drifting with spinners, bail open but line held with rigging wire.

Where are you planning to fish. technique and bait varies with location. Gog's and pilchards from Miami north, ballyhoo and pilchards from Key Largo south. If drifting - power drifting with spinners, bail open but line held with rigging wire.

Just out of curiosity what advantage does rigging wire holding the line give vs the bail closed with drag?

Ok, this is a strange one. Just got back. No sails, I didn't see any of the other 12 boats out there getting them either so I just think they were not around. However, I did hook at turtle, it was huge. I didn't know what to do. It grabbed it and headed to the bottom. If I cut the line it would have 100's of feet of line on it if i fight it up it gets worn out. We decided to chase it and when it came up for air to cut as much line off as possible. We still couldn't get all that close without wearing it down so there was still about 50' of line on it. Any idea what is best in this situation?